Mancuso et al.’s 2020 study is a significant piece of scientific research that uses CRISPR technology to cure SIV in non-human primates receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). The group used a rhesus macaque model, commonly used in HIV research, and the CRISPR/Cas9 system to target an LTR region of the SIV genome.
The CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to modify SIV proviral DNA, and this was the first time such a high degree of precision was achieved in altering a viral genome. The results showed that the monkeys treated had lower viral loads and a more favorable immune response. With its advent, we are expecting better medications in the fight against the global health issue of HIV/AIDS.
The data analysis conducted in the study supports the researchers’ conclusions, showing a significant decrease in viral load and an improvement in immune function in the monkeys treated with CRISPR/Cas9 compared with those treated with ART only. If a CRISPR-guided amendment is performed, the number of CD4+ T cells increases, demonstrating that it is a treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
In conclusion, Mancuso et al.’s seminal work with CRISPR-Cas9 represents a dramatic breakthrough in this seemingly endless fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This path-breaking study will illustrate the unmistakable impact that CRISPR could have for revolutionizing the therapeutic landscape for this disabling disorder.
Through the alteration of the SIV genome, they have paved the way to a new age of focused treatments that could transform the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and thus be characterized by a significant improvement. The precision of manipulating viral RNA offers a great opportunity to develop, based on improved strategies, new and more effective treatments with the potential for long-lasting remission or even a cure.
Reference
Mancuso, P., Chen, C., Kaminski, R., Gordon, J., Liao, S., Robinson, J. A., Smith, M. D., Liu, H., Sariyer, I. K., Sariyer, R., Peterson, T. A., Donadoni, M., Williams, J. B., Siddiqui, S., Bunnell, B. A., Ling, B., MacLean, A. G., Burdo, T. H., & Khalili, K. (2020). CRISPR-based editing of SIV proviral DNA in ART-treated non-human primates. Nature Communications, 11(1).